Last Modified: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 7:01 p.m.

LPGA golfer Jodi Ewart Shadoff practices at The Concession golf course in Manatee County in 2012. The course is a finalist for the association's 2017 Solheim Cup.

HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE / 2012 / THOMAS BENDER

Speculation that The Concession Golf Club might be the venue for the LPGA's biennial Solheim Cup match has risen of late after an inspection trip by LPGA officials last week and by recent practice rounds by top LPGA golfers there.

“Concession put together a very impressive presentation for the team that visited last week,” said Kraig Kann, a spokesman for the Daytona Beach-based LPGA.

“While I cannot discuss the other two venues we're considering, Concession is very much in the running.”

Landing the Solheim Cup — often referred to as the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup — would be the largest tournament ever held at The Concession and the most notable in Southwest Florida in years. More than 100,000 would likely attend the event, based on recent participation.

A decision on the site of the 2017 Solheim event could come as early as August, following this year's match in Denver, said Pat Norton, a Concession spokeswoman.

The Concession, which is east of Lakewood Ranch, debuted in 2006 and was named “Best New Private Course” by Golf Digest magazine that same year.

Three years later, the publication described The Concession as one of America's 100 greatest courses.

Bruce Cassidy Jr., general manager of The Concession, declined to comment directly on the Solheim bid, but he said the course is attracting greater attention each year.

“More people are becoming aware of the course and are recognizing what it has to offer,” he said.

“We do not have desire to host an annual tour event, but we will continue to entertain championships at the various levels — junior, collegiate, amateur, professional, men and women.”

Hosting the Solheim Cup would also further cement the region's place as a sports tourism epicenter.

The five-day event would likely draw more than 100,000 spectators to watch the top U.S. players compete against the elite team from Europe.

At the same time, the match would pump millions of dollars into the local economy and mushroom out to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties as well.

The Concession was among 20 different communities and venues that showed an interest in hosting the 2017 event, a list since whittled to three finalists, Kann said.

Already an LPGA host

Even before any announcement regarding Solheim is made, the 18-hole Concession is hosting LPGA athletes.

Reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Na Yeon Choi, for instance, has been practicing at the course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin in advance of defending her title next week.

Alongside her, top LPGA players like Suzann Pettersen, Brittany Lincione and Jodi Ewart Shadoff have been honing their shots and enjoying the swanky club's 33,000-square-foot clubhouse.

LPGA Hall of Famer Hollis Stacy, who won three U.S. Women's Open titles over her career, is also a Concession member.

“The aspiration was to build a great members' course which would one day host a Ryder Cup,” Cassidy Jr. said of the course, which was developed by Ritz-Carlton Sarasota co-developer Kevin Daves.

“This means a course that is a stern challenge for the best players in the world, yet playable by members and their guests,” he added. “It's also a course that has many risk and reward opportunities for match play competition.”

The Concession is no stranger to match play, either. Over nearly the past decade, it has hosted various collegiate and other championship competitions.

Last year, it hosted the American Junior Golf Association Rolex Girls Championship, the Callaway Matchplay Championship and the Big Ten Matchplay Championship.

This year, it will be the site of the collegiate Big Ten Matchplay Championship again.

In 2015, it will hold the 2015 NCAA Mens' and Womens' Championships, which will draw about 1,500 spectators and be broadcast live on the Golf Channel.

“The mens' championship will be the biggest event and the most prestigious event the club will have hosted,” Cassidy Jr. said.

“The NCAA considered many elements including hotels, restaurants and nearby airports in their decision, but the two main factors were a quality course and previous events held.”

Showcasing the area

Following the success of the Pan American Masters Swimming Championship held this month in Sarasota County, landing the Solheim Cup seems possible — even plausible.

“We're truly blessed to have one of the top 100 courses in the U.S. in our backyard,” said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention Center & Visitor's Bureau.

“The Concession and the many professional and amateur golfers it attracts allows us to showcase the course and the Bradenton area. That is invaluable.”

If the LPGA does select The Concession for the Solheim Cup, the event would likely take place just weeks before or after the 2017 World Rowing Championships, an event the region is also trying to land.

If Nathan Benderson Park is chosen for the rowing championships, an additional 42,000 athletes and spectators would come to the area for 10 days in September.

The 2009 Solheim Cup, hosted at Rich Haven Farms just outside Chicago, it drew a record-breaking 120,000 spectators — more than twice the size of Sarasota's population — and generated $19 million into the Illinois economy, according to LPGA data.

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - Southwest Florida is one of three finalists to host one of the most prestigious Ladies Professional Golf Association tournaments in 2017, the organization said Wednesday. </p><p>Speculation that The Concession Golf Club might be the venue for the LPGA's biennial Solheim Cup match has risen of late after an inspection trip by LPGA officials last week and by recent practice rounds by top LPGA golfers there.</p><p>“Concession put together a very impressive presentation for the team that visited last week,” said Kraig Kann, a spokesman for the Daytona Beach-based LPGA. </p><p>“While I cannot discuss the other two venues we're considering, Concession is very much in the running.”</p><p>Landing the Solheim Cup — often referred to as the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup — would be the largest tournament ever held at The Concession and the most notable in Southwest Florida in years. More than 100,000 would likely attend the event, based on recent participation.</p><p>A decision on the site of the 2017 Solheim event could come as early as August, following this year's match in Denver, said Pat Norton, a Concession spokeswoman.</p><p>The Concession, which is east of Lakewood Ranch, debuted in 2006 and was named “Best New Private Course” by Golf Digest magazine that same year.</p><p>Three years later, the publication described The Concession as one of America's 100 greatest courses.</p><p>Bruce Cassidy Jr., general manager of The Concession, declined to comment directly on the Solheim bid, but he said the course is attracting greater attention each year.</p><p>“More people are becoming aware of the course and are recognizing what it has to offer,” he said.</p><p>“We do not have desire to host an annual tour event, but we will continue to entertain championships at the various levels — junior, collegiate, amateur, professional, men and women.”</p><p>Hosting the Solheim Cup would also further cement the region's place as a sports tourism epicenter. </p><p>The five-day event would likely draw more than 100,000 spectators to watch the top U.S. players compete against the elite team from Europe.</p><p>At the same time, the match would pump millions of dollars into the local economy and mushroom out to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties as well.</p><p>The Concession was among 20 different communities and venues that showed an interest in hosting the 2017 event, a list since whittled to three finalists, Kann said.</p><p><b>Already an LPGA host</b></p><p>Even before any announcement regarding Solheim is made, the 18-hole Concession is hosting LPGA athletes. </p><p>Reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Na Yeon Choi, for instance, has been practicing at the course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin in advance of defending her title next week.</span></b></p><p>Alongside her, top LPGA players like Suzann Pettersen, Brittany Lincione and Jodi Ewart Shadoff have been honing their shots and enjoying the swanky club's 33,000-square-foot clubhouse.</p><p>LPGA Hall of Famer Hollis Stacy, who won three U.S. Women's Open titles over her career, is also a Concession member.</p><p>“The aspiration was to build a great members' course which would one day host a Ryder Cup,” Cassidy Jr. said of the course, which was developed by Ritz-Carlton Sarasota co-developer Kevin Daves.</p><p>“This means a course that is a stern challenge for the best players in the world, yet playable by members and their guests,” he added. “It's also a course that has many risk and reward opportunities for match play competition.”</p><p>The Concession is no stranger to match play, either. Over nearly the past decade, it has hosted various collegiate and other championship competitions.</p><p>Last year, it hosted the American Junior Golf Association Rolex Girls Championship, the Callaway Matchplay Championship and the Big Ten Matchplay Championship. </p><p>This year, it will be the site of the collegiate Big Ten Matchplay Championship again.</p><p>In 2015, it will hold the 2015 NCAA Mens' and Womens' Championships, which will draw about 1,500 spectators and be broadcast live on the Golf Channel. </p><p>“The mens' championship will be the biggest event and the most prestigious event the club will have hosted,” Cassidy Jr. said.</p><p>“The NCAA considered many elements including hotels, restaurants and nearby airports in their decision, but the two main factors were a quality course and previous events held.” </p><p><b>Showcasing the area</b> </p><p>Following the success of the Pan American Masters Swimming Championship held this month in Sarasota County, landing the Solheim Cup seems possible — even plausible. </p><p>“We're truly blessed to have one of the top 100 courses in the U.S. in our backyard,” said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention Center & Visitor's Bureau.</span></b></p><p>“The Concession and the many professional and amateur golfers it attracts allows us to showcase the course and the Bradenton area. That is invaluable.” </p><p>If the LPGA does select The Concession for the Solheim Cup, the event would likely take place just weeks before or after the 2017 World Rowing Championships, an event the region is also trying to land. </p><p>If Nathan Benderson Park is chosen for the rowing championships, an additional 42,000 athletes and spectators would come to the area for 10 days in September. </p><p>The 2009 Solheim Cup, hosted at Rich Haven Farms just outside Chicago, it drew a record-breaking 120,000 spectators — more than twice the size of Sarasota's population — and generated $19 million into the Illinois economy, according to LPGA data.</p>